Chapter 2: Cold

"Eat up, Nato," he says as he puts down a bowl of fish. "I need to study for exams next week. Just call me if you need something, all right? I wonder if you can actually understand me…"

Nato meows and Nikolai giggles, petting him.

As the cat eats, Nikolai stares endearingly. He tears the fish with his teeth and paw, looking particularly proud of himself as he chews.

"Nato," says Nikolai. "I don't believe in baseless rumors but– out of curiosity– how will I die?"

Nato continues to eat, not answering. Of course, he's a cat. He shouldn't have expected something.

"How about this," he sits beside the cat, crossing his legs, "will people grieve for me?"

Nati pauses eating and Nikolai looks at him as if expecting something. Seconds later, the cat has yet to continue eating, and Nikolai taps him until Nato winces.

"Of course, there will," says a deep, husky voice coming out of the cat. Nikolai jumps away in surprise but Nato continues. "Your children, your servants and I will. As well as the undying soul of your spouse."

Nikolai widens his eyes. He had no idea what the cat– whatever it was– was talking about. But he felt relieved. He felt as if he had known this whole time that he was something not quite human.

Still, his consciousness perks up at the sight of the cat growing as tall as a tree. The cat was at least eight feet tall and its head hit the ceiling. It wore a hood that was not quite white but not quite black either. It seems to change colors as he blinks. He could see the ghostly white skin of his face, his thin lips, and hollow cheeks.

Nikolai scrambles off the floor and to his desk where he groped his cabinets for a balisong. He flips the balisong so its knife was out and points it at the specimen.

"Begone!" He yells. Perhaps he thought it would do something. "Demon! You're a demon, aren't you? Trying to fool me with your sleazy antics! Leave before I curse you with a spell!"

Nato doesn't try to reason with him. He looks defeated even when the fight has yet to begin. He raises his index finger at him. Nikolai's eyes widen even more when he sees his finger with no flesh, just bone.

Nikolai doesn't even try to act brave anymore, "Leave, damn it! I– I will skewer you and roast you! Then I shall feed you to the people of the slums!"

"As if you have the power to do that." A greenish light glows at the tip of his finger and it blasts into Nikolai's forehead. It did not scrape the skin but he collapsed to the wooden floor.

Nati puts his hand underneath his robe and approaches the blond. He crouches and picks him up with warm human-like hands.

'So that he may not be shocked by the coldness I hold," he thinks.

He gingerly places him on the bed. When he lets go of him, he feels the lingering touch still on his skin.

"Oh, Lord," he clasps his hand to one another. "It is unfortunate that that man has punished you out of spite. I am confident that you will get through it but I hope that one day, you'll be happy. All of us will be happy."

The window opens by itself and Nato turns into black smoke as he jumps out. The cold air seeps through Nikolai's room and the quiet night goes on.